The Order of the Founders and Patriots of America (OFPA) is a highly restrictive, United States-based, hereditary fraternal organization[1] whose self-declared purpose is to collect and preserve records related to the original American colonists and their descendants, and to promote camaraderie among descendants of original colonists.[2] Its strict bloodline mandates and small size (currently slightly more than 1,000 members), has earned it a reputation as the most exclusive lineage society in the United States.[3] However, unlike the Society of the Cincinnati, membership eligibility does not descend through family lines by order of agnatic primogeniture, meaning more than one member of the same family can simultaneously hold membership.

The OFPA was founded in 1896.[4] At that time, there were several hereditary organizations for descendants of Patriots of the American Revolution as well as for descendants of early American colonists (i.e. Founders). The OFPA is the only organization to require descent from both a Founder and a Patriot. Its first annual meeting was held in the Governor's Room at New York City Hall.[5]

Membership is limited to male U.S. citizens of "good moral character" who are directly descended in the paternal line from a person who settled, prior to 1657, in the territory that would become the thirteen colonies and whose family later helped achieve, through military service, United States independence.

The OFPA is organized into 28 regional chapters, known as societies. These, together, form the general society, which is headed by a governor-general. The society is headquartered in Ohio. Individual members are referred to as "associates."[6]

The 1-126th Aviation battalion of the Rhode Island National Guard was recognized by the OFPA in 2012. The certificate is being presented by Governor John Eastman of the Rhode Island Society.

The OFPA annually presents an award to an outstanding college Army ROTC unit. The "Order of the Founders and Patriots of America Award" has been called "the Heisman Trophy of Army ROTC"[7] and is awarded based on a criteria that includes the number of United States Army officers a unit commissions and the academic performance of cadets.[8] A separate award is periodically presented to an outstanding National Guard unit.[9] The society also underwrites individual awards named after its deceased members. The George Dewey Award is annually presented to a United States Naval Academy midshipman, and the John Wright Award, named after former 101st Airborne Division commander Gen. John M. Wright, is given to an outstanding West Point cadet.

Governor of Michigan Rick Snyder escorts OFPA associate David Miller as he recognizes the 238th Aviation Regiment of the Michigan National Guard as Michigan's best all-around National Guard unit in 2014.

The OFPA and its member societies fund the erection and installation of monuments and markers at the sites of historical occurrences in early United States and colonial American history.[10] The organization also maintains genealogical archives on its members. This includes 162 boxes of material deposited at Langsdale Library at the University of Baltimore. [6] Additional records curated by individual societies are stored elsewhere, including Rutgers University, and the Connecticut State Library.